Mold assembly



D. E. MEvEs 3,262,164

- MOLD ASSEMBLY July 26, 1966 5. Sheets-Sheet Hmmm 4 l /l ll l ll.

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United States Patent O 3,262,164 MOLD ASSEMBLY Donald lE. Meves, Alliance, (litio, assignor to Arrested lndustres Incorporated, Chicago, lill., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 14, 1963, Ser. No. 287,948 10 Claims. (tCl. 22-69) This invention relates generally to the art of metal casting and more particularly to mold structures for the pressure casting of molten metals.

Various mold arrangements have been proposed for the pressure casting of molten metals. However, none of those -have proven to lbe entirely satisfactory. For example, some mold assemblies have not -be-en able to tolerate the combined deleterious effect of high temperature and high flow rate of the incoming molten metals while still other mold assemblies have not provided ready access to the cast article once the pressure pouring cycle is completed.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a novel mold assembly which is capable of accommodating the high temperatures and metal flow rates attendant in pressure casting operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mold assembly which is not only highly suitable to pressure casting operations but also provides a means of ready access to the cast article.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following description when considered in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a mold assembly constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the mold assembly shown in FIGURE l; A

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end elevational View taken generally on the plane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally on the plane of line 4--4 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan vi-ew of a shoe arrangement suitable to the practice of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 1 and looking -in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an actuating assembly adapted for use in the invention.

Certain details are omitted from one or more of the FIGURES for purposes of clarity.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, FIP- URES 1 and 2 illustrate a mold assembly 10 as being comprised generally of vertically extending graphite mold blocks 12 and 14 received within frame assemblies 16 and 13, respectively. The entire mold assembly is generally slidably retained to a base by means of a plurality of guide bars 22, 24 and 26. Guide bar 22 is located on the foremost side of frame assemblies 16 and 18, as viewed in FIGURE l while guide bars 24 and 26 are disposed on the opposite side of the mold assembly 10.

Guide `bar 22 is xedly retained near its opposite ends within bearing members 28 and 36 which in turn are rigidly supported with respect to the base 20 by means of suitable pedestal arrangements 32 and 34. Guide -bar 24 is similarly mounted lby means of bearing -members 36 and 38 and pedestal arrangements 40 and 42. However, guide bar 26 is supported within elevated retaining bearing members 44 and 46 secured atop a support structure 48 which is comprised generally of vertically extending I-beam members 50 and 52 joined together Patented July 26, 1966 at their respective uppermost ends by oppositely disposed girder members 54 and 56 of angular cross-section.

FIGURE 3, a fragmentary elevational view taken on the plane of line 3 3 of FIGURE 2 illustrates the support structure 48 as also being comprised of a laterally extending cantilever member 53 secured at one end generally to girder members 54 and 56 and I-beam 52 and supporting at its other end bearing member 46 which receives one end of guide bar 26. I-beams and 52 may be secured to the base 20 yby any suitable means as, for example, oppositely disposed reinforcing members and 62 and a base plate 64. Any means of joining, such as, for example, rivets, bolts or welding, may of course be employed. Similarly a cantilever member 66 is provided at the opposite side of support structure 48 for supporting bearing 44.

Frame assembly 16, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, is comprised of vertically extending angular corner members 68 and 70 secured to each other by means of horizontally spanning Channel members 72, 74 and 76 in a manner permitting the reception therein of graphite mold block 12. Frame assembly 18 is similarly comprised of corner members 78 and 80 and channels 82, 84 and 86.

Each of the frame assemblies 16 and 18 have secured at their lower portions oppositely disposed bearing members 38 and 90 which are slidably received on guide shafts or bars 24 and 22, respectively. The upper portions of both frame assemblies 16 and 18 are also provided with bearing members 92 secured thereto and slidably received on guide bar 26. Portions of guide bar 26 and bearings 92 are broken away in FIGURE 2 in order to illustrate bearings 88 and shaft 24 which are preferably located directly below.

Whenever mold sections 12 and 14 are brought together to form a mold casting cavity 94, clamping assemblies 96 may be employed for maintaining frame assemblies 16 and 18 and mold sections 12 and 14 together. Clamping assemblies 96 are generally comprised of a clamp arm 9S pivotally mounted, as -by a suitable pivot member 100, to a 4bracket 102 secured to frame assembly 16. The other end of arm 98 is adapted to engage a suitable locking pin 104 which is secured to an adjustable ybracket 106 mounted on frame assembly 1S. Bracket 106 is provided with elongated slots 108 and 110, which receive suitable clamping bolts 112 therethrough, and a laterally extending tab portion 114 through which are threadably received adjustment screws. 115. The purpose of screws 116 is to provide lateral adjustment of `bracket 106, in the plane of the drawing, by bearing against corner member 78. After brackets 106 are properly adjusted by meansof screws 116, bolts 112 may be tightened in order to secure the ybrackets to the frame assembly 18. Preferably, two clamping assemblies 96 are also provided on the opposite side of the mold assembly.

FIGURE 4, a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 4 4 of FIGURE 2, illustrates a left-hand ram arrangement 118, comprised of a ram .holder 120 mounted atop the base 20 and loosely receiving a ram 122. The ram 122 may of course be any suitable pressure responsive piston and cylinder assembly. The closed end of the cylinder portion of ram 122 is provided with a laterally extending bar member 124 rigidly secured thereto. Ram holder 120 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending brackets 126,

- generally oppositely disposed -about the ram 122, which threadably receive adjustment screws 128, and 132. A bracket assembly 134, comprised of a base 136 and laterally extending bracket plates 138 and 140 iixedly retaining a pin 142 therein, is suitably secured to frame assembly 16.

A similar bracket assembly 144, rarn holder 146 and ram 148 are also provided on the opposite side of the mold assembly 10. All details thereof which are like or similar to those of either holder 120, ram 122 or bracket assembly 134 are identified with like primed reference numbers. Bracket assemblies 134 and 144 are adapted to at times coact with their respective ram assemblies for opening and/or closing the mold sections 12 and 14.

A split mold shoe comprised of shoe portions 150 and 152 is provided between the mold sections 12 and 14 and base 20 so as to permit relatively smooth sliding motion of the mold assembly with respect to base 2t). Mold shoe 150, illustrated also in FIGURES 5 and 6, is preferably comprised of a relatively thin copper plate having diagonally formed grooves 154 and 156 in the bottom surface thereof in order to accommodate particles of dirt which may be present on the coacting sliding surface of base 20. A plurality of clearance holes 158, arranged in parallel rows, are provided generally at the outer end of the shoe 150. The clearance holes may be countersunk at the bottom surface in order to receive screws from the underside thereof. The inner surfaces 160 and 162 are formed so as to result in an opening 164 conforming to the mold cavity 94. Mold shoe 152 is preferably identical to shoe 150 and all details thereof like or similar to mold shoe 150 are identified with like primed reference numbers.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the typical arrangement by which the respective mold shoes are secured to their respective frame assemblies. Mold shoe 150 is .shown positioned beneath mold section 12, corner members 68 and 70 and an angular mounting bracket 166 which is rigidly secured to the frame assembly 16 by any suitable means. The horizontal portion 168 of bracket 166 is provided with elongated slots 170 and 172 for the reception of screws 174, only one of which is shown. Screw 174, extending through one of the holes 158 and slot 178, secures the bracket 166 to shoe 150 by means of a cooperating nut 176. As surfaces 160 and 162 of the shoe are re-rnachined screws 174 may be placed in sets of holes 158 which are closer to the outer edge of shoe 150 thereby allowing the re-machined surfaces 160 and 162 to be again placed in proper relationship to the mold assembly.

Base is also preferably provided with a set of railway wheels 178 for cooperation with suitable rails 180. A section of the rails 180 may also be provided with any suitable elevating mechanism for lowering a portion of the rails, base 20 and mold assembly 10 into cooperative engagement with a pouring tube 182 of a suitable pressure pouring ladle assembly schematically illustrated at 184. The pressure pouring ladle assembly may be of any well known type such as that disclosed generally by U.S. Patent 2,847,739 issued to E. Q. Sylvester. A pouring tube adapter assembly 186 is provided at the underside of base 20 for functionally engaging the tube 182.

Operation Assuming that the mold assembly 18 is in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1, the operation of the invention is as follows. Mold assembly and base 20 are moved along rails 180 until the adapter 186 is in substantial alignment with pouring tube 182 at which time the entire mold assembly is lowered until functional engagement between adapter 186 and tube 182 is completed.

A pressure differential is then created across the metal within the ladle assembly 184 and mold cavity 94 causing the molten metal to flow upwardly through tube 182, adapter 186 and into the mold cavity 94. The flow of molten metal is of course continued until cavity 94 is completely filled at which time termination of ow is effected by sliding the entire mold assembly to the right with respect to base 20 thereby placing opening 164 of the mold shoes and cavity 94 out of juxtaposition with the pouring tube 182. At this time the pressure within the pressure pouring ladle 184 may be relieved thereby allowing the molten metal remaining in the pouring tube 182 to run down into the metal-containing chamber of the ladle.

The sliding of the mold assembly 10 is achieved by ram 122 which when actuated `bears against the adjustment screws 128 and bracket assembly 134 in a manner causing the mold assembly 18 to slide along base 20 while being guided by guide bars 22, 24 and 26. The guide bars also perform another important function, that being the resilient urging of the mold assembly in a downward direction. Preferably, bearing members 28, 30, 36, 38, 44 and 46 are so arranged as to cause guide bars 22, 24 and to experience a slight downward bending moment at their respective extremities. Such bending moments in turn serve to minimize any possible leakage between the sliding surfaces of mold shoes and 152 and base 20. Although not specifically shown, it will, of course, `be understood that rams 122 and 148 are suitably connected to a source of fluid pressure for actuation thereof.

Once further iiow of molten metal to cavity 94 is terminated, the mold assembly 10 and base 20 may be elevated to the normal track or rail level and transported to an appropriate area for at least partial solidiiication of the cast article.

When the necessary degree of solidification has been achieved, clamping arms 98 are swung open thereby permitting the subsequent separation of the mold sections 12 and 14. At this time, since rams 122 and 148 are loosely received within their respective holders 120 and 146, rams 122 and, 148 may be replaced by rams 188 one of which is generally illustrated in FIGURE 7. Rams 188 comprised of a cylinder portion 190 and a laterally extending plate 192 secured thereto have a coupling portion 196 secured to or formed on the outer end of the piston rod 194. Coupling portion 196 is provided with an opening 198 for at times engaging pins 142 and 142.

Rams 188 are then placed within the holders 120 and 146 in a manner engaging pins 142 and 142', respectively. At this time the plate 192 of the right-hand ram will be abutting against screws 132 while the left-hand ram 188 will have its backing plate 192 abutting screws 132. Left-hand ram 188, while in its extended position, is actuated causing mold section 12 to move towards the left away from mold section 14 which is restrained by the non-actuated right-hand ram 188. The separation of the mold sections then provides ready access to the cast article.

After removal of the cast article, both the left-hand and right-hand rams 188 may again be replaced with rams 122 and 148 with which mold sections 12 and 14 are moved to the position shown by FIGURES 1 and 2. Mold sections 12 and 14 are then secured to each other by means of clamping arms 98 and the casting process repeated.

One of the important features of the invention is its adaptability to a highly repetitive production schedule. For example, the mobility of the entire mold assembly and base make it suitable for incorporation in a continuous type of production line wherein the mold and base travel from station to station having predetermined operations performed at each of such stations. Further, the provision of removable rams enables the removal, placement and replacement of the various rams at particular stations thereby avoiding the necessity of providing rams for each mold assembly and base in the production line.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described, it is apparent that other embodiments and modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

`1. Pressure casting mold apparatus comprising a base, a mold assembly including a pair of mold blocks mounted on the base for movement horizontally toward each other into interengagement and away from each other, the mold blocks forming therebetween a vertically extending mold cavity opening through the bottom thereof, said base havassale/i ing a pouring aperture therein communicating with said mold cavity in a predetermined pouring position of the mold assembly, means supporting said base in position for cooperation with a pouring tube therebelow in coinrnunication with said pouring aperture, means for releasably locking the mold blocks together in assembly, and means for moving the mold blocks into and out of interengagement, and the mold assembly into pouring position and out of that position and into a position in which said cavity is closed by a solid portion of the base.

:2. The invention set out in claim l wherein plate means is fitted to the bottom of the mold blocks and movable therewith along the base, said plate means has an aperture registering with said cavity and with said pouring aperture in the base when the mold assembly is in pouring position.

3. The invention set out in claim 2 wherein said plate means is provided with grooves in its under surface inclined to the direction of movement of the mold blocks.

4. The invention set out in claim 3 wherein the mold blocks are of graphite, frame members are incorporated in the mold assembly for supporting the mold blocks, said plate means includes a plate element under each mold block, and means for securing said plate elements to respective frame members for relative adjustment therebetween in directions of movement of the mold blocks to accommodate changes in dimensions of the mold blocks in those directions due to relinishing the blocks after successive molding operations.

5. The invention set out in claim 4 wherein the means for releasably locking the mold blocks together includes clamp arms pivotally mounted on the frame members on one mold block and brackets mounted on the frame members on the other mold block cooperable with and adjustable toward and from the clamp arms.

6. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein guide bars 6 are provided on the base, and the mold blocks have sliding and guiding engagement therewith, and the guide bars are inclined downwardly at the ends whereby to provide increased pressure between the mold blocks and base when the mold assembly is out of molding position relative to that when it is in molding position.

7. The invention set out in claim il wherein the moving means includes power cylinder-ram means.

8. The invention set out in claim 7 wherein said power cylinder-ram means includes such means at each end of the mold assembly for moving the mold assembly as a unit and moving the mold blocks individually.

9. The invention set out in claim 1 wherein the base is mounted on a wheeled carriage for movement of the mold apparatus along rails, said power cylinder-ram means includes such means at each end of the mold assembly and detachably mounted on the apparatus where- Iby to utilize the same power means for a plurality of mold assemblies.

10. The invention set out in claim 9 wherein the power cylinder-ram means includes one such means for each pulling and pushing at each end of the mold assembly, the mold assembly has means for operative engagement by the power means, and means is provided on the base for operative engagement by the power means in selective position corresponding to the individual power means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS '5,015,863 1/1962 Strom et al. 22--69 XR. 3,032,841 5/ 1962 Sylvester 22-69 3,189,960 `6/1965 Bright 22209 I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

5 R. S. AN'NEAR, Assistant Examiner'. 

1. PRESSURE CASTING MOLD APPARATUS COMPRISING A BASE, A MOLD ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PAIR OF MOLD BLOCKS MOUNTED ON THE BASE FOR MOVEMENT HORIZONTALLY TOWARD EACH OTHER INTO INTERENGAGEMENT AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, THE MOLD BLOCKS FORMING THEREBETWEEN A VERTICALLY EXTENDING MOLD CAVITY OPENING THROUGH THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID BASE HAVING A POURING APERTURE THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH SAID MOLD CAVITY IN A PREDETERMINED POURING POSITION OF THE MOLD ASSEMBLY, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID BASE IN POSITION FOR COOPERATION WITH A POURING TUBE THEREBELOW IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID POURING APERTURE, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE MOLD BLOCKS TOGETHER IN ASSEMBLY , AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE MOLD BLOCKS INTO AND OUT OF INTERENGAGEMENT, AND THE MOLD ASSEMBLY INTO POURING POSITION AND OUT OF THAT POSITION AND INTO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID CAVITY IS CLOSED BY A SOLID PORTION OF THE BASE. 